Mother of Fallen Soldier: Trump 'Did Disrespect My Son'

In this Oct. 17, 2017, frame from video, Myeshia Johnson cries over the casket of her husband, Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush in Niger, upon his body's arrival in Miami. (WPLG via AP)

President Donald Trump "did disrespect" Sgt. La David Johnson, one of four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger this month, when Trump told his widow that Johnson "must have known what he signed up for," according to his mother.

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson, D-Fla., told the Post on Tuesday that Trump told Johnson's widow, Myeshia Johnson, that her late husband "knew what he was signing up for, but I guess it hurts anyway."

Wilson was in a limousine with Johnson when the call was made, and heard the conversation on speakerphone. She added that Trump "made her cry."

Johnson's mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, told the Post on Wednesday that Wilson's account was accurate, and that "President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband."

Trump denied the congresswoman's account of the phone call in a tweet Wednesday.

Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!

Wilson stuck by her story during an appearance on MSNBC, Wednesday, where she described Trump's phone call as "horrible" and "insensitive," and insisting that Johnson "was in tears. She was in tears. And she said, 'He didn't even remember his name.'"

She added that Trump "was almost like joking. He said, 'Well, I guess you knew' — something to the effect that 'he knew what he was getting into when he signed up, but I guess it hurts anyway.' You know, just matter-of-factly, that this is what happens, anyone who is signing up for military duty is signing up to die. That's the way we interpreted it. It was horrible. It was insensitive. It was absolutely crazy, unnecessary. I was livid."

President Donald Trump "did disrespect" Sgt. La David Johnson, one of four U.S. soldiers killed in Niger this month, when Trump told his widow that Johnson "must have known what he signed up for," according to his mother.